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| Version 4 | Version 5 |
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| South Africa gets new crime squad | South Africa gets new crime squad |
| (about 4 hours later) | |
| South Africa's new serious crime squad has begun work six months after its FBI-style predecessor was disbanded amid claims of political bias. | |
| The Directorate for Priority Crime Investigation is intended to take on organised and white-collar crime. | The Directorate for Priority Crime Investigation is intended to take on organised and white-collar crime. |
| Its predecessor, known as Scorpions, pursued several senior figures from the ruling ANC, including Jacob Zuma, who became president in May. | Its predecessor, known as Scorpions, pursued several senior figures from the ruling ANC, including Jacob Zuma, who became president in May. |
| The ANC's opponents said the Scorpions' abolition was a political move. | The ANC's opponents said the Scorpions' abolition was a political move. |
| But critics of the elite crime unit said the investigators were too focused on bringing down members of the ANC. | But critics of the elite crime unit said the investigators were too focused on bringing down members of the ANC. |
| Quick impact | Quick impact |
| Mr Zuma's supporters maintained that the corruption charges brought against him were part of a political plot to prevent him becoming president by allies of Mr Zuma's rival, former President Thabo Mbeki. | Mr Zuma's supporters maintained that the corruption charges brought against him were part of a political plot to prevent him becoming president by allies of Mr Zuma's rival, former President Thabo Mbeki. |
| The charges were dropped in April after a tape-recording emerged which suggested that the prosecution had been politically motivated. | The charges were dropped in April after a tape-recording emerged which suggested that the prosecution had been politically motivated. |
| We expect the unit to zoom in on the activities of criminals and destroy their networks, at home and globally Police Minister Nathi Mthethwa | We expect the unit to zoom in on the activities of criminals and destroy their networks, at home and globally Police Minister Nathi Mthethwa |
| Mr Mbeki has always denied such suggestions. | Mr Mbeki has always denied such suggestions. |
| As well as charges of political bias, the Scorpions unit, which was a part of the justice department, also had notoriously bad relations with the police. | As well as charges of political bias, the Scorpions unit, which was a part of the justice department, also had notoriously bad relations with the police. |
| The BBC's Mohammed Allie in Cape Town says the relationship between the two agencies was characterised by jealously and lack of co-operation. | The BBC's Mohammed Allie in Cape Town says the relationship between the two agencies was characterised by jealously and lack of co-operation. |
| The new directorate should not suffer from similar problems, our correspondent says, because it will operate under the wing of the police services. | The new directorate should not suffer from similar problems, our correspondent says, because it will operate under the wing of the police services. |
| However, almost all of the investigators from the Scorpions have moved over to the new unit. | However, almost all of the investigators from the Scorpions have moved over to the new unit. |
| Launching the directorate, Police Minister Nathi Mthethwa said he was encouraged that most of the Scorpions agents had been retained and urged the unit to make a quick impact. | Launching the directorate, Police Minister Nathi Mthethwa said he was encouraged that most of the Scorpions agents had been retained and urged the unit to make a quick impact. |
| "We expect the unit to zoom in on the activities of criminals and destroy their networks, at home and globally," local news agency Sapa quoted him as saying. | "We expect the unit to zoom in on the activities of criminals and destroy their networks, at home and globally," local news agency Sapa quoted him as saying. |
| A caseload of 288 investigations was symbolically handed over to the head of the new agency, Anwa Dramat. | A caseload of 288 investigations was symbolically handed over to the head of the new agency, Anwa Dramat. |
| Analysts say Mr Dramat, a relatively unknown former deputy police chief of Western Cape province, was a surprise choice for the post. | Analysts say Mr Dramat, a relatively unknown former deputy police chief of Western Cape province, was a surprise choice for the post. |